2026 Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council election

2026 Kensington & Chelsea London Borough Council election

7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)

All 50 seats to Kensington & Chelsea London Borough Council
26 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Elizabeth Campbell Kasim Ali
Party Conservative Labour Independent
Last election 35 seats, 43.9% 13 seats, 31.8% 0 seats, 0.7%
Current seats 36[1] 7 3[a]

 
Leader Linda Wade
Party Liberal Democrats Green Advance UK
Last election 2 seats, 21.2% 0 seats, 2.5% Did not exist
Current seats 2 1 1

Incumbent Leader

Elizabeth Campbell
Conservative



The 2026 Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council election will take place on 7 May 2026.[2] All 50 members of Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council will be elected. The elections will take place alongside local elections in the other London boroughs and elections to local authorities across the United Kingdom.[3]

Background

In May 2024, Conservative candidate Stéphanie Petit won the Norland by-election.[4]

Previous council composition

After 2022 election Before 2026 election After 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats
Conservative 35 Conservative 36
Labour 13 Labour 7
Liberal Democrats 2 Liberal Democrats 2
Green 0 Green 1
Independent 0 Independent 4

Changes 2022–2026:

  • April 2023: Emma Dent Coad (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[5]
  • October 2023:
    • Eva Jedut (Labour) expelled from party[6]
    • Mona Ahmed (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[7]
  • December 2023: Mona Adam (Labour) joins Greens[8]
  • March 2024:
    • Stuart Graham (Conservative) resigns – by-election held May 2024[9]
    • Dahabo Isse (Labour) joins Conservatives[10]
  • May 2024: Stephanie Petit (Conservative) wins by-election[11]
  • October 2025: Toby Benton (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[12]

Results

References

  1. ^ The 3 Independent councillors sat in The Independent Group.
  1. ^ "Kensington and Chelsea Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 15 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Local elections in London will test support for Reform UK and Greens". BBC News. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Number of councils that have requested delay to local elections revealed - is yours one of them?". Sky News. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  4. ^ Lynch, Ben (3 May 2024). "New Kensington and Chelsea councillor 'humbled' after by-election win in Norland". My London. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  5. ^ Burford, Rachael (27 April 2023). "Labour's former Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad quits party calling it 'unrecognisable'". The Standard. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  6. ^ Zorzut, Adrian (30 November 2023). "Councillor faces hearing after social media posts about Sharia law and retweeting far-right accounts". Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  7. ^ Zorzut, Adrian (12 December 2023). "Councillor quits Labour for Greens as former party in 'open war' against itself". My London. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Kensington and Chelsea has its first Green councillor following the defection of Councillor Mona Adam from Labour". Radio Jackie. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  9. ^ Boothroyd, David. "In like Flintshire". LocalCouncils.co.uk.
  10. ^ Boothroyd, David. "The Dream shall never Dye". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Norland Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  12. ^ Zorzut, Adrian (28 October 2025). "Labour loses another London councillor as member quits to be independent". My London. Retrieved 20 January 2026.